Thursday, August 30, 2012

Ever see a dozen catamarans all racing at over 20 knots, powered by nothing but the wind and current? Do you like watching the best athletes in a given sport perform before crowds of tens of thousands of spectators? Best yet, the whole thing is free to watch.

Last weekend, I went out to Marina Greens alongside San Francisco Bay and watched the America’s Cup trials in sailing. The best sailors in the world from countries such as Britain, New Zealand, Sweden, Italy, Korea, China, and America all compete in high-speed sail regattas as they jockey for qualifying positions in next year's big cup race on San Francisco Bay. Needless to say, observing these sailors in action was a thrill for amateur sailors like my Dad and myself, and some of the crew sailed so close to shore that half the time I didn’t need binoculars to see their faces.

If you happen to be in this neck of the woods any time in the next year, you definitely have to catch a race or two of this worldwide event. You can learn more about the AC Trials and Events here. Root for your favorite team…but I’ll of course be cheering for the American favorites, the Golden Gate Yacht Club.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Do you like to editing and composing written materials so that they’re crisp, clean, and error-free? Do you enjoy writing technical content for the web? Do you prefer to work at an up-beat, up-and-coming company where your contributions can really make a difference?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, look no further. I’ve been working at Gree, Inc. as a Technical Writer since earlier this year and now we’re finally hiring another Tech Writer to join my team. Aside from the plus of getting to work with me (wink wink), it’s a great work environment for a writer. The people are awesome, the company is experiencing tremendous growth, and to top it off…it’s a really fun place to work.

If you’re interested in the position, please send me your resume at markchristophernoce@gmail.com. The position is in San Francisco located literally right next to the AT&T ballpark. Even if you can’t apply I’m still interested in reaching out to other Tech Writers who enjoy keeping up their creative writing on the side, thanks!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Who are some of your favorite fictional detectives of all time? Sherlock Holmes of course comes to mind, and everything from Film Noir to Children’s stories abound with heavy mystery/detective elements. But for me, there’s one character who stands above all the rest.

My wife and I love watching/reading Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot detective stories. This Belgian detective solves mysteries in the decades before WWII with a cunning mix of attention to detail and a heavy dose of psychology. Poirot is such a beloved character that when Agatha Christie died major newspapers ran an obituary for Poirot, one of the few fictional characters anywhere to receive such an honor.

So what mystery books have you read lately? If you want to get into a Poirot story/short film, I suggest something exotic like The Mystery of the Egyptian Tomb or Death on the Nile for starters. I of course greatly prefer the David Suchet versions. Enjoy, mon ami!

About Me

Author of Between Two Fires and Dark Winds Rising, part of the Queen Branwen Series published by St. Martin's Press. I write historical fiction ranging from medieval Wales to Vikings to murder mysteries. I also write contemporary short stories.